Activities on Fellowship: The fellow’s duties and responsibilities will vary each week depending on the needs of the institution. The following are the primary activities that will be available for the forensic fellow. Competency and NGRI Evaluations: The most common forensic evaluations at SBH are competency to stand trial/restoration to competency evaluations. However, other competency evaluations are sometimes requested, including competency to be sentenced. Most Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) evaluations are completed by forensic centers in the community, but SBH psychologists are sometimes asked to complete sanity evaluations, particularly if the patient has remained at the hospital under competency maintenance status. Forensic Review Teams: Forensic Review Teams (FRTs) determine patient movement through the hospital. FRTs are usually made up of two individuals from psychiatry, psychology, and/or social work who are not directly associated with the patient’s care. The FRT then reviews the patient’s chart, consults with the treatment team, and interviews the patient to determine the patient’s level of risk. Patients who are at the hospital under various forensic statuses (NGRI, Incompetent to Stand Trial-Unrestorable Criminal Jurisdiction, and Incompetent to Stand Trial-Unrestorable Probate Jurisdiction) and high-profile non-forensic patients are evaluated by the FRT whenever the treatment team is requesting an increase in the patient’s privileges.
